What the Heart Desires

by Kelli McCracken

  She replayed the dream in her mind, remembering the looks, the caresses, even the kisses he gave her. His words began to filter in, each one echoing through her thoughts as he said them. One specific confession sprang to mind, one that set her body ablaze when she remembered the husky sound of his voice.

  “You promised you’d never leave me. That as long as fire burned in your soul, it would burn for me.” She blurted out the words, biting her lip as she waited for him to respond.

  But it was Layne’s turn to grow speechless.

  CHAPTER 4

  Gray clouds gathered in the sky, blocking the sun from Dylan’s view. After the last few days of beautiful weather, he didn’t like the idea of rain. It meant being stuck in the house with Heaven and Layne. Despite how much space they had in the cabin, it wasn’t big enough, not to escape the growing connection between his wife and friend.

  He knew this day was coming. It didn’t make it hurt any less when he realized it had, nor did knowing her life depended on her bond with Layne. He’d gotten used to Layne resisting the idea of getting closer to her. Guess the discussion they had three days ago changed his friend’s mind.

  And to think he’d given them privacy to have that discussion…

  Hell. Even if he hadn’t made the trip into town, it wouldn’t prevent the inevitable. Heaven and Layne would share a deep connection.

  His stomach churned at the thought.

  Leaning his elbow against the window casing, he searched the backyard until he found his wife and friend. She stood beside him under a group of trees. Layne focused on something in the distance, but Heaven watched his every move. A flame formed in his hand a few minutes later.

  When Heaven moved closer, the flame rose higher, swaying in Layne’s palm like a charmed snake. His fingers cupped around it, causing it to flare between the cracks. As it engulfed his hand, he thrust it forward, sending a line of fire cascading between the trees.

  It was a spectacular sight…the first time. It lost its zeal after the fifth. Judging by the look on Heaven’s face, she would disagree. She stared at Layne with the intensity of a child at a magic show, eager to see his next trick.

  There was no denying that Layne had grown stronger, but his strength wasn’t the only thing that increased. His connection with Heaven had too.

  Dylan grumbled a wordless complaint. He was okay with their closeness… Hell, even if he weren’t, he’d pretend to be. Heaven needed Layne to protect her. That was it. There was nothing to worry about. Absolutely nothing. Her connection to her Keeper didn’t compare to the one she shared with him. He was her soulmate. Her heart belonged to him. So did her soul.

  “Are you still there?”

  His mother’s voice echoed through the phone, bringing his mind back to their conversation. “Yeah, I’m here. Sorry. I was looking at something in the yard.”

  The line grew quiet. Then her voice cleared on the other end. “Is everything okay, Dylan?”

  “Everything is good, Mom. I’m just tired. Heaven hasn’t slept well since we arrived. When she’s restless, so am I.” He rubbed at the heaviness in his face. At least his answer wasn’t a lie. Heaven had lost sleep. They both had. His mom didn’t need to know the rest.

  “I’m sure it’s harder for her to get comfortable. She’s what, thirty-six weeks, now?”

  “As of yesterday, which brings me to my next question. Can we come back to Brightsville?”

  His stomach knotted each second he waited for her to respond. Layne wasn’t the only one whose abilities had improved. His intuition was more accurate than ever. She proved that point even more when she finally spoke.

  “You’re not going to like what I have to tell you.”

  Turning from the window, the wall pressed to his back as he leaned his head against it. “Why? Did someone see Dad?”

  “Not exactly. We went back to the warehouse yesterday in search of clues to what happened. Faith came with us. She has retrocognition, which means she is able to see things that have already occurred. We knew she could help us figure out what happened after you blacked out.”

  A sudden surge of coldness filled him. “Did it work?”

  “Yes. She witnessed the fight between you and your father. It ended with you slamming him to the ground. You passed out soon after.”

  It was as if she were telling him a story about someone else. He had no recollection of anything she’d mentioned. “I don’t remember slamming him on the ground or anything else but us punching each other. So if I passed out, how did I leave?”

  “Faith said it wasn’t long before someone showed up. There were two people, to be exact. She never saw their faces. They were wearing cloaks, but she said they were your height and build. Once they picked you up, the three of you disappeared.”

  Dylan scrubbed the scruff on his face, struggling to remember what happened. “I’m assuming that one of them was a transporter.”

  “Most definitely.”

  She didn’t elaborate, even though he sensed she had more to tell him. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

  “As a matter of fact, there is. Faith said three more men showed up at the warehouse not long after you and the other two vanished. They were in the same cloaks as the first two.”

  He knew better than to ask her to elaborate. The more she told him, the less he wanted to hear. Yet his curiosity always drove him to ask the difficult questions.

  “What did they do?”

  “They draped a blanket over your dad, and then all four disappeared.”

  The thump of his heart echoed in his ears. “When you say they draped a blanket over him, do you mean his entire body, like they would if he were dead?”

  She stammered over her words, finally huffing when her mouth wouldn’t cooperate. “I know what you’re thinking, Dylan, but you’re wrong. He’s not dead.”

  Maybe she was right. Maybe he hadn’t killed his father but injured him instead.

  No matter how much the thought eased his conscience, it also incited fear. His dad couldn’t hurt Heaven if he were dead. But he wasn’t dead. He was a pissed-off, high-ranking member of The Fallen. All he would want is revenge.

  Christ…

  He studied the dark clouds forming in the distance. “None of this makes sense, Mom. If a transporter took me, how did I end up in my car?”

  “I don’t know, sweetheart, but we won’t stop until we have answers.”

  His eyes fell back to Heaven, who’d linked her arm with Layne. Both were moving across the yard, toward the backdoor. The closer they grew, the more erratic his heart beat. If he didn’t relax, she would see his frustration and ask questions.

  “Are you still there, Dylan?”

  “Yeah,” he croaked, clearing the grogginess from his throat.

  “Sweetheart, don’t stress over this. We’re putting a plan in motion to help keep Heaven safe when you guys return.”

  “What type of plan?”

  “Layla’s Keeper is flying in this evening. Anna’s Keeper is already here, as is Spencer. They’re keeping watch over the property and the house. In the next few months, there will be other Oracles arriving. Word is spreading about the prophecy and the Supremes. People want to help protect you.”

  The news brought him a twinge of relief. They would need additional support when they returned because things would get hectic soon after. His daughter would be making her arrival in a few weeks.

  “It sounds like we need to stay at the cabin another week.”

  “I’m afraid so. If anything changes before then, I’ll let you know.” The line went silent once more. This time, it made his intuition go haywire. “There’s one more thing I need to tell you, Dylan.”

  As his mother’s words echoed over the line, the confusion they inspired unsettled him. The backdoor brushed open. Heaven’s voice swirled around him, tugging at his heart. Her face showed contentment, even happiness. He wasn’t sure if he was doing a good job at concealing his feelings or if she was picking up
on every heart-pounding vibe. He hoped it was the former. Otherwise, he’d be the unfortunate fool to steal away her happiness.

  Still disbelieving what his mother told him, he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to speak at all. Would she have dropped this bomb on him had she known Heaven was in the same room?

  “My privacy is gone, Mom. I’ll talk to you next week.”

  She choked out an okay just before he pressed the off button. The phone beeped in response, gaining both Heaven and Layne’s attention. She peered at his hand as she approached.

  “Was that your mom on the phone?” Anticipation had her wringing her hands when he nodded. “Is everything okay?”

  No. But then, nothing had been okay since they came into each other’s life. From the first breath he gave her, to this precise moment, their relationship remained on edge.

  “Everything is fine.”

  He lowered his eyes to her belly. Their daughter’s energy began to spike, which meant one thing. She was using her shielding abilities to protect her mother. Guess she’d sensed him lying. He hated himself for doing so, but he didn’t want to worry Heaven with the new information his mom gave him. When they had time alone, he would tell her about the images Faith saw. And the rest… He wouldn’t say anything until he knew for sure.

  Then again, it might be the one secret he took to his grave.

  * * *

  Heaven tuned out the TV and leaned further into the couch. The movie no longer held her interest. Not after Dylan stood and announced he was going to shower.

  Something had weighed on him since his earlier conversation with his mother. Said conversation ended soon after she and Layne entered the cabin. So did the faint vibe of her connection with her husband. Their daughter was blocking them again.

  Had his mom said something to spawn the strange behavior, or was he reacting to the amount of time she’d been spending with Layne?

  Once the bedroom door closed, a wave of heat swirled around her. It increased the beat of her heart, but she drew in a deep breath and tucked her feet between the cushions. Layne’s profile came into view a moment later.

  His emotions continued to spin around her as he faced the door. He tapped his fingers and thumb against the arm of the couch, forming a rhythm that matched the music pouring from the TV. The longer she stared, the tighter he pressed his lips together.

  “Have you decided to go back to ignoring me?”

  Her question obtained the response she wanted. His fingers stilled. The heat within him eased, leaving her skin erect with goose bumps. When he turned to face her, the tension in his brows faded.

  “I’m not ignoring you. I’m watching the movie.”

  “Then you should be looking at the screen instead of the front door…” She didn’t miss the way he glimpsed at the TV. Then his body grew rigid. “What’s wrong, Layne? I can’t help but feel something else is bothering you.”

  “I’m fine.”

  He was lying. She knew without a doubt that he was, but if she’d learned one thing, it was to never bombard him with questions. He’d go into quiet mode if she did, or he’d start a fire.

  The thought triggered a memory. It wouldn’t be the first time Layne started a fire indoors. Something had happened in his room in Jamaica the night they shared the dream. She’d never found out what, but something caused his blanket and drum sticks to catch fire…and his pants.

  Warmth flushed her cheeks as she remembered him walking back to his room, wearing nothing but a curious expression on his face. She’d been so relieved to see him alive that instinct had her scanning every inch of him.

  The heat in her face amplified. She’d definitely seen every inch of him…

  Pushing the images from her mind, she thought back to the blanket and drum sticks. They weren’t the only things that caught fire in the Jamaican cottage.

  “Layne, can I ask you something?” His eyes shifted back to her, and he nodded. “You, uh…you never told me what really happened in Jamaica, when the curtains caught fire.”

  The curl of his lips surprised her. She hadn’t expected the laughter bubbling in his chest either, but she welcomed both responses. At least he wasn’t upset that she’d brought up the subject.

  “I didn’t think you’d buy the story we were selling. I told Dylan as much.” The smile on his lips remained a few more seconds before it finally faded. He concentrated on her hand, which rested on her belly. “It happened right after Dylan told me you were pregnant.”

  She blinked once. Twice. Thrice… “I, uh…I see.”

  Her voice shook as much as her insides. She knew his reaction to the pregnancy had something to do with the fire.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Sinking further into the couch, she curled both hands around her belly and stared at the ceiling. His question hung between them until she found the courage to reface him. “You said your abilities and emotions are linked. That leaves me with one question. What were you feeling when Dylan told you the news?” She watched him open his lips but hesitate on speaking. “Strong emotions give you the most power, Layne. Whatever you felt, it was powerful.”

  He nodded before slouching beside her. The chocolate-colored fabric held his attention as he ran his finger over it. “Is shock considered a strong emotion?”

  “I believe it is, but it involves a deeper emotion, like anger, happiness, even sadness. So which were you?”

  “I uh…” He beat his thumb against his leg. “I had a mixture of emotions. I was happy for you and Dylan, but angry and hurt over the things Faith did. Well, what I thought she did.”

  “Okay. So it shocked you to hear about the pregnancy. That’s understandable, but what happened after that?”

  “I don’t know,” he answered, leaning his elbow against the cushion. Doing so brought him a few inches from her shoulder. “The news stunned me, and I remember standing in front of the window, letting it sink in. Then the curtains combusted.”

  The room fell silent, but Layne’s energy spoke of the confusion wavering in his heart. Something remained on his mind, something that didn’t have to do with what they’d just discussed.

  “What’s wrong?”

  When Layne glanced up, she noticed how close their faces were. Then he lowered his gaze back to the cushion. “I—I’m glad we’ve had a chance to hangout these last few days. I didn’t think you’d want to after…”

  “After what?”

  The fire inside him smoldered as hot as the passion from where it stemmed. “After the dream.”

  She fought against the images begging to enter her mind, but one burst through, the one of his eyes locked onto hers, watching her come. Her skin burned with such intensity, she thought she’d be the one combusting.

  “I’m not sure why we had the dream, Layne. It makes sense that we were on each other’s mind after the attack, but the rest… I don’t know.”

  “Don’t do this, Heaven.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “Don’t do what?”

  “Don’t pretend you don’t know why I’d dream about you, about touching you, about…”

  His jaw flinched as he faced the window. He regretted saying what he had. She couldn’t believe he said it either, but then, he made a valid point. She knew his feelings went deeper. He was her Keeper, after all, but there was more to it. Something else was fueling his feelings. She wished she knew what. Then she would know what was fueling hers…

  Every time she thought back to the dream, her body responded in ways it shouldn’t. Heating beyond belief. Making her breath catch. Stirring an ache in her soul.

  Why did she have to ache for him? Why did she—

  Fire spread across her belly. Not like the kind Layne produced, but one that came from muscles stretching beyond their limits. She sucked in a deep breath, scrunching her face as her stomach hardened.

  “Heaven?” Layne’s voice broke through the pain. His fingers wrapped around her upper arm, shaking it. “Heaven, answer me. Is it the baby? Are yo
u having a contraction?”

  The fear in his voice matched the fear on his face. It made her heart pinch to see how concerned he was. He would make a great dad someday.

  “It’s okay, Layne.” She clenched her teeth until the hardness began to recede. Her belly shifted as it did, and the sudden movement gained his attention.

  “What just happened?”

  He leaned up on his arm, causing the corner of the cushions to dip lower. Their legs touched, but he didn’t acknowledge their closeness. Instead, he stretched his arm forward, as if he were going to touch her abdomen, but ended up cupping his hand around hers.

  She couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction. He was adorable when he showed the softer side of himself. He kept that side hidden, but she knew it existed, even if no one else did.

  “Relax.” She used her other hand to cover the top of his. “The baby was stretching. She has a habit of kicking the crap out of my lungs. I think it must be where she’s grown over the last week.”

  The concern on his face faded. He caressed the back of her hand and stared in the same direction. Curiosity consumed him. The miracle of life had that affect on a lot of people, especially men. But Layne’s curiosity was about more than amazement. He had questions—questions he desperately wanted answered.

  “I’ll be responsible for her safety too, won’t I?”

  “I’m only guessing this, but I’d say so. At least until she’s older or her Keeper comes into her life.”

  He didn’t respond to her answer. Instead, he concentrated on their joined hands, as well as the mound where they rested. His anticipation built.

  “Do you want to feel her move?” She waited for him to answer, but he shook his head instead. Each twist caused his hair to brush against her shoulder, making her ultra aware of how close they were. “I sense your curiosity, Layne. If you want to feel her, I don’t mind. I’m used to people touching my belly.”

  “No. It’s okay. I’m sure she gets tired of people poking her.”

  “Liar,” she teased. “You’re afraid.”